Win in global fight against fascism celebrated at UN

Chinese and Asian American community members from across the New York area gathered at the United Nations headquarters on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of both the UN's founding and the victory in the global fight against fascism.

The event, themed "Remembering History and Protecting Peace Together", was organized by Asian American Community Empowerment and co-hosted by local Chinese and Asian American associations, drawing around 150 participants.

During World War II, North Americans fought alongside the Chinese on China's battlefields against Japanese aggression. Chinese Americans played a key role — with many returning to their homeland to join the fight, while communities across the United States contributed through donations of money and supplies.

John Chan, chairman of Asian American Community Empowerment, reflected on the lessons history offers to people today.

"As members of the Asian American community, we deeply understand the precariousness of peace," he said, adding it forms the foundation for living securely in a foreign land.

"We also understand the power of unity — people of different backgrounds and skin colors can only achieve lasting peace and prosperity through respect, understanding and cooperation."

Peace should never be taken for granted, but must be protected and passed on to future generations, he added. Friday's commemoration, he said, was not only to honor those who came before, but also to echo the calls for justice and conscience.

"We need to pass on the flames of peace and gather the strength of friendship, and together protect this hard-won tranquility and development."

New York State Assembly member Lester Chang shared the story of a veteran Flying Tiger who lived in New York's Chinatown.

"We had several members who were Flying Tigers themselves," Chang said, referring to the US air force unit that assisted the Chinese people in resisting Japanese aggression.

"Unfortunately, all passed away, but one of them lived to the age of 100. He was a Chinese interpreter in World War II, and many of our Chinese Americans served with the Flying Tigers as interpreters in China during the war."

Chinese Americans played an important role during World War II, he said, with around 25,000 serving in the US military — the highest proportion of participation from any ethnic group.

Enormous sacrifices

In addition to Chinese American support for the joint China-US effort against fascism, China itself made enormous sacrifices in securing victory — tying down Japanese forces on the Chinese front and giving the Allies crucial time to mount their counteroffensive.

"For China, this war was exceptionally prolonged," said Chinese Consul General in New York Chen Li.

From the fall of Northeast China in 1931 to Japan's surrender in 1945, the Chinese people fought relentlessly for 14 years, Chen said.

"Facing a brutal, well-equipped aggressor, the whole nation stood up," he said. "With the staggering cost of over 35 million military and civilian casualties, we resisted and pinned down more than half of Japan's main forces, building a new Great Wall with our flesh and blood."

Chen also highlighted the contributions of Chinese communities in the US, who during the war established thousands of salvation groups to support resistance against Japanese aggression — with some individuals even returning to China to join the fight.

"Records show that over 70 percent of Chinese fighter pilots were overseas Chinese, mostly from America," he said.

Chinese people were not alone in their fight, he said, as warships departed from New York Harbor for multiple battlefronts and the Brooklyn Navy Yard worked around the clock.

"While contributing to victory, the American people also forged deeper ties with China," Chen said.

"Through the Hump Airlift and the Stilwell Road, nearly 1 million tons of strategic supplies and tens of thousands of personnel reached Southwest China. The Flying Tigers defended nearly one-third of China's airspace. This friendship, forged on the battlefield, shall be treasured eternally by both our peoples.

"Though most have passed, their spirit must be carried forward," he said.